AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences

The AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to share that Associate Professor Arman Zrvandyan participated in an Erasmus+ teaching exchange at the University of Barcelona, where he delivered lectures on the protection of rights before the European Court of Human Rights and engaged in discussions on future academic collaboration.

The exchange highlighted the importance of international academic partnerships in strengthening teaching, research, and institutional ties across universities.

Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/4uedZUo

A fully sponsored program by the Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF) which aims to empower English teachers across Armenia through the AUA Teaching English as a Foreign Language - TEFL Program.

Empowering English teachers across Armenia
This Spring 2026, AUA’s TEFL team launched a professional development program, fully sponsored by the Armenian Educational Foundation, supporting public school teachers from regions outside Yerevan. The initiative begins with an online English Preparatory Course and continues with the Certificate in TEFL, helping educators strengthen their skills and expand opportunities nationwide.
To read more on the topic, please follow the link below:
https://newsroom.aua.am/2026/04/30/aef-sponsored-program-empowers-english-teachers-across-armenia/

What truly sets the American University of Armenia apart is the breadth and depth of its elective courses—spaces where curiosity turns into discovery, and learning goes beyond the classroom.

From highly sought-after classes like photography to hands-on creative and interdisciplinary experiences, electives at AUA invite students to explore new perspectives, develop unexpected skills, and engage more deeply with the world around them. As one course demonstrates, students don’t just learn techniques—they transform the way they see, observe, and connect with their environment, gaining a sharper awareness of everyday life and its hidden details.

Read about the EC 201:Photography course 👉

Learning to See: Student Voices From the Photography Classroom - AUA Newsroom The student art display on the first floor of the PAB serves as a curated platform for showcasing the creative output of AUA students.

🔹 LL.M. students Meri Vanuni (LL.M. ’27), Mane Hovsepyan (LL.M. ’27), Alla Tonoyan (LL.M. ’27), and Mariam Sargsyan (LL.M. ’27) competed at the 33rd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna — one of the most prestigious competitions in international commercial arbitration.

Coached by AUA alumni Nune Poghosyan (LL.M. '25) and Hrach Sargsyan (LL.M. '24), the team brought months of preparation to the international stage.

👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4sJW1bg

AUA faculty member, 2025-26 C. Judson King Endowed Professor and interim program chair of the Master of Public Affairs and Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, Jean‑François Caron co-edits a new volume published by Routledge, bringing together global scholars to examine how the war in Ukraine is reshaping international relations and the future world order. 🌍📘

Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/4vzpqHF

From New York to Yerevan — and from in front of the camera to behind it 🎬

Meet Elen Hakobyan (BAEC ’26), a senior in AUA’s Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications program, whose journey shows how powerful storytelling can be when creativity meets purpose.

After a life-changing exchange year abroad, Elen returned to Armenia looking for a space where she could speak her truth — and found it at AUA. What started as a love for performance evolved into a passion for filmmaking, storytelling, and asking the questions that matter.

Today, her senior project explores something deeply human: the unspoken emotional struggles of men who have experienced war. Through sensitive interviews and thoughtful storytelling, she is creating space for voices that are often unheard — and reminding us that the right words can open even the hardest conversations.

If you’re looking for a program where you can think critically, create boldly, and tell stories that matter, the BA in English & Communications at AUA might be your place.

📩 Learn more and start your own journey at AUA https://admissions.aua.am/ugrad/

Student Journeys: Documenting the Unspoken Emotions of Conflict - AUA Newsroom Elen Hakobyan (BAEC ’26) is a senior in the Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications program at AUA.

📢April 23: Human Trafficking Through a Human Rights Lens.
This workshop will examine human trafficking as a human rights violation rather than solely a criminal offence, exploring how states’ obligations extend beyond prosecution to include prevention, victim protection, and systemic responses addressing underlying vulnerabilities such as inequality, migration, and social exclusion. Particular focus will be placed on identification and referral pathways, highlighting the role of frontline professionals in detecting potential victims and ensuring timely, coordinated, and rights-based responses.

Air pollution in Yerevan is more than an environmental issue: it’s a public health challenge. This research project by AUA Assistant Professor, Dr. Matthew Reale-Hatem, combines data-driven modeling and policy analysis to map pollution levels, assess health impacts, and explore practical solutions to improve air quality and urban life in Armenia.

Read more 👉 https://newsroom.aua.am/2026/04/10/chss-session-on-yerevans-air-pollution-crisis/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRJjVJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeFt3d1ttLrQZvpt1p-779ckFhcUDB2zecx_i0P2MNW_hC8hbvgSw0p253jT8_aem_Pp7ZUtC2U4-u6aYcE1e_Aw

CHSS Hosts Session on Yerevan's Air Pollution Crisis - AUA Newsroom The American University of Armenia College of Humanities and Social Sciences held the third session of its Faculty Research Series.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 30, 2026!

📣 Call for Applications: Global History Masterclass at AUA

Young researchers from the South Caucasus — master’s students, Ph.D. candidates, and early-career postdoctoral scholars — are invited to take part in a masterclass on global history with Prof. Sebastian Conrad and Prof. Thomas Ertl.

This masterclass will explore how insights from the field of global history can inform master’s and doctoral research projects, with a particular focus on connecting the histories of the South Caucasus and Armenia to broader debates on globalization, interconnection, and postcoloniality.

Participants are invited to reflect on questions such as:
• How can global history perspectives be applied to concrete research projects?
• How do regional histories intersect with global historical processes and scholarly debates?

To apply, please send a short motivation letter (approx. 400 words) to [email protected] by April 10, 2026. Your letter should briefly introduce your academic background, current field of study, and what you would like to present or discuss during the workshop. This may include your thesis or research project and how it relates to global history, or a broader question you wish to explore during the session.

📍 The workshop will take place at the American University of Armenia (AUA) and will be accompanied by public lectures by Professors Conrad and Ertl.

This event is part of the Global History Series of the Max Weber Office, Tbilisi, organized in cooperation with the Turpanjian Institute of Social Sciences at AUA, and builds on previous workshops held in Yerevan and Tbilisi.

📅 Application deadline: April 10, 2026

Learn more 👉 https://mwsgeorgia.hypotheses.org/11470

is accepting applications for the Graduate Certificate in Translation — a one-year program offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

🔹 The program is designed for translators and language professionals working from and into Armenian, and is open to new translators, seasoned professionals, and currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students alike.

We are looking for motivated applicants who want to revolutionize the field of translation and interpreting.

📅 Application deadline: June 1, 2026
🌐 Learn more: https://chss.aua.am/ctr/

Who shapes the future of international arbitration — and who gets to be part of the conversation?

While key debates often remain centered in cities like Paris, London, and Singapore, Armenia is emerging as a space where these global discussions can take new form.

The Yerevan Arbitration Colloquium brings together leading voices and regional professionals to engage with the evolving realities of arbitration in a changing world.

🌍 Global dialogue. Local momentum. Real impact.

📣April 27-28: Yerevan Arbitration Colloquium
The Yerevan Arbitration Colluquium 2026 is an advanced forum on arbitration law and practice in commercial and investment disputes. addressing Kaj Hobér, Grant Hanessian, Loukas Mistelis, Nata Ghibradze, Aida Avanessian, and Norair Babadjanian bring decades of practice, scholarship, and institutional experience across every major arbitral forum. More information is available here https://law.aua.am/yerevan-arbitration-colloquium-2026/